A distributor of premium and performance vehicle parts used SKU dimensions stored in its WMS to support packaging decisions. When those dimensions were wrong, the problem carried into outbound shipping.
The distributor installed the vMeasure Static Parcel Dimensioner at receiving and used a QR code workflow to move measurement data into its existing mobile WMS. The new process reduced the manual dimensioning workflow from six steps to two.
Where Did the Packaging Errors Start?
The packaging errors started with incorrect SKU dimensions in the item master, especially for similar vehicle parts.
Operators later used those measurements to choose cartons. When the dimensions were wrong, they picked oversized packaging, which increased shipping charges. The wrong packaging also affected the calibration of high-performance motor parts and increased repair time for service centers.
Staff then spent more time on quality checks at the outbound station before the orders moved forward.
Why Did the Old Dimensioning Process Stop Working?
The existing dimensioning process required six manual steps to measure a SKU and move its information into the item master.
The distributor already ran its WMS on tablets, and that setup worked for its warehouse operation. The problem was integration. The WMS had limited integration capabilities, and the IT staff did not have the resources to build a complex integration just for dimensioning.
The distributor needed a way to improve measurement capture without replacing the WMS already in use.
What Changed at the Receiving Station?
The distributor placed the vMeasure Static Parcel Dimensioner at receiving, where operators dimensioned vehicle parts as they entered the warehouse.
For each SKU, vMeasure captured the dimensions and a photograph. It then displayed the measurement data as a QR code formatted for the WMS.
The operator scanned the QR code with the existing WMS tablet. The WMS decoded the information and added the dimensions to the SKU’s item master record.
vMeasure also integrated with the distributor’s existing weighing scale. This allowed the new dimensioning process to work with the existing receiving and WMS workflow without a complex integration.
| Before vMeasure | After vMeasure |
|---|---|
|
Dimensioning required 6 manual steps |
The workflow required 2 steps |
|
Measurement data moved through more manual actions |
Operators scanned a formatted QR code with the WMS tablet |
|
Incorrect dimensions entered the item master |
More reliable dimensions were stored in the WMS |
|
Wrong SKU data affected carton selection |
Better SKU data supported carton selection |
What Improved After Automated Dimensioning?
The most direct change was the improvement from six manual steps to two. Operators had fewer actions to complete when capturing SKU measurements and updating the WMS.
More reliable dimensions in the item master gave the outbound operation better information for carton selection. That helped reduce oversized packaging and the higher shipping charges that came with it.
The SKU photograph also gave staff a visual reference for quality checks. With better data captured at receiving, the distributor improved packaging decisions later in the shipping process without changing its existing mobile WMS.
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